Man fights off bobcat attack in yard of Holden home

A Causeway Street man said he was able to fend off an attack by a bobcat Monday evening without suffering serious injury.

Michael Votruba of 441 Causeway St. said he got home from work Monday, got out of his truck, and went back into the passenger side to grab his things when he saw an animal scurry across the yard and into a small alleyway between the carport and his house.

He said he went back to the driveway and could see the animal coming out; it started growling, he said. He said it appeared to be a bobcat, and was looking straight at him. Mr. Votruba said the cat, which he estimated weighed around 25 to 30 pounds, started approaching him. He happened to be carrying his pistol, and drew his weapon. He said he took a couple of steps back, but then fell backward into the yard.

That’s when the bobcat jumped on his leg. He was able to get the cat off his leg, get up and run a few steps, but when he turned around it jumped on his chest. He said he grabbed the cat by the neck, threw it to the ground, and shot it twice in the driveway.

But the cat wasn’t done yet, and jumped back on his chest, he said. He fired two more shots, and the cat ran to the carport. His girlfriend, Justine Lapierre, was able to get his rifle, which was locked in the house. When he got the rifle, he fired a few more shots and said the animal appeared to have died.

Mr. Votruba said he didn’t feel like he was injured in the immediate aftermath; he had holes in his shirt, but did not suffer any scratches to his chest. He had a scrape on his elbow. He said he went to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus in Worcester, where he said he received seven rabies shots and an updated tetanus shot.

He said he called police, who told him the animal control officer would be in on Tuesday morning. He said he also went to the police station later that night and police told him they couldn’t help him.

Police Chief George Sherrill could not be reached for comment Wednesday. According to police records, UMass called police around 7:40 p.m. Monday to ask about an animal attack, and around 9:30 p.m., a walk-in came to the station to ask about animal control.

Mr. Votruba said he spoke with an animal control officer around noon Tuesday. He said he was told that the elapsed time, combined with the animal being shot in the head, would likely make it difficult to test for rabies. He said he spoke with an official at the Board of Health, who had a similar response.

Eventually, an officer from the Environmental Police came and took the animal. Mr. Votruba said the animal was sent to a state lab for testing. He said he is still awaiting results, and is due for another round of shots today. He said he’s an experienced hunter and fisherman, but he said he’s only ever seen one other bobcat in the state. He said he’s glad he was armed when the cat attacked.

“If I didn’t have it, there’s a good chance I would have had to smother it or something,” he said. “There’s a good chance I would have got cut to shreds.”